Live Services - Licensing

Microsoft® is enabling access to a broad set of Web services, called Live Services for third-party application development. Live Services provide a programmatic way to handle Windows Live user data, communications services, and application resources that can connect your application to millions of users and devices.

Authenticated and Non-authenticated Live Services

Live Services are either authenticated or non-authenticated. Authenticated Live Services provide access to Windows Live user data, communications services, and application resources. Windows Live users must sign in using Windows Live ID to decide what type of access to their user data, if any, is allowed, and grant permission (delegate authority) to a third party site or Web application to access user data or services on their behalf. Windows Live Contacts API and Windows Live Messenger Library are examples of authenticated Live Services.

Non-authenticated Live Services do not access Windows Live user data or communications services, so they do not require users to sign in or authenticate with their Windows Live ID. Silverlight Streaming by Window Live is an examples of a non-authenticated Live Service.

Live Services Usage Thresholds

To encourage developers to build new and innovative applications with Live Services, many Live Services are available at no charge below certain usage thresholds. Refer to the Licensing section for commercial terms when using Live Services above the free usage thresholds.

Function Live Service / Application Threshold for Free Usage1
Authenticated Services

Identity
  • Windows Live ID (Web Authentication service and Delegated Authentication service)
  • Microsoft Federation Gateway

These services or applications have no user limits or fees. Accessing the resource providers (e.g. Windows Live Contacts) through Windows Live ID authentication may incur fees.

User Data and Notifications
  • Windows Live Contacts API (Beta)
  • Windows Live Alerts notification service

1 million Unique Users2 per month

Communications and Presence
  • Windows Live Messenger Library (Beta)
  • Windows Live Presence API (Beta)

250,000 Unique Users per month

Client-side Controls


  • Messenger IM Control (Beta)

Services exposed through these controls have no user limits or fees.
Non-Authenticated Services

Rich Media Experiences

Microsoft® Silverlight Streaming by Windows Live™ (Beta)

While the service is in beta, storage is free up to 10 GB, and streaming is free up to 5 TB of aggregated bandwidth per user account per month. Videos should not exceed 10 minutes and have a maximum bit rate of 1.4 Mbps. As the service exits beta, unlimited streaming also will be available for free with advertising, or with payment of a nominal fee for use of the service without advertising.
  1. Above these limits, you will be required to enter into an agreement with Microsoft for these services when these services emerge from beta.
  2. A unique user (UU) is a visitor who accesses a site or Web application (directly or through delegation) from a single, top-level domain with a distinct Windows Live ID and whose visit results in server requests to Live Services to access that user’s data or to use communication services or application resources.

Licensing

Generally, the licensing model for Live Services depends upon whether the service is authenticated or non-authenticated.

  • Fees for authenticated Live Services are based on the number of unique users (UUs) who have accessed a site or Web application from a single, top-level domain during a given time period. A unique user is a visitor who accesses a site or Web application (directly or through delegation) with a distinct Windows Live ID and whose visit results in server requests to Live Services to access that user’s data or to use communication services or application resources.
  • Fees for non-authenticated Live Services are based on transactions or usage, regardless of who is making the request. Examples of transactions or usage are number of queries during a given time period, compute time, and storage space.

The following table provides an overview of commercial terms for Live Services. Services not reflected in the table have not yet been finalized in terms of pricing or pricing model.

Live Service Commercial Terms

User Data, Notifications, Communications, and Presence

When these services emerge from beta, this group of authenticated Live Services will be available for a single per unique user fee of USD $0.02 per unique user per month.

Fees will be incurred for sites or Web applications from a single, top-level domain that exceed any of the free usage thresholds. See the FAQ for examples of how the free usage threshold is evaluated.

When these services emerge from beta, alternative commercial arrangements may be available. More information will be provided when available.

Microsoft Silverlight Streaming by Windows Live

To be announced